Means for cleaning piping systems



April 28, 1953 A. sTAMs 2,636,653

MEANS FOR CLEANING PIPING SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 51, 1950 Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITEQ STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR CLEANING PIPING SYSTEMS Albrecht Stams, New York, N. Y. Application October 31, 1950, Serial No. 193,050

2 Claims. (0]. 225-12) The present invention relates to means for cleaning piping systems, as for instance the piping systems used for directing beer from a keg to the dispensing tap, or for similar systems for conveying liquids generally. For convenience, this invention will be explained as applied to a beer piping system. Those versed in the art, will readily apprehend the use of this invention in the food and chemical industries and various other installations where this invention is applicable.

From a keg usually located in the cellar, by commonly known pump and piping, beer is directed to a dispensing tap at a bar at some floor above. Overnight and during such times when the establishment is closed, the piping is usually left full of beer which ferments. Yeast particles formed, not only spoil the beer in the pipe, but much good beer must pass through the tap before the supply is running clear. Hence, each morning, for each tap in the dispensing equipment, beer is let run through the tap until the piping is cleaned. The amount of waste is tremendous, and the corroding action of the beer on the piping is constant.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved means for cleaning beer piping systems, so that the cleaning is done with water instead of using beer; such cleaning being done at closing time and not at opening time of the establishment, and that during such times when there is to be no use of the beer dispensing system, the piping shall be waterfilled and not beer-filled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved cleaning means for piping systems, of the character mentioned, which shall require but a single control, conveniently located ator near the bar, which by a simple manipulation will stop the flow of new beer from the keg and will connect water supply to the piping terminating in the tap or spigot, and by another simple manipulation will disconnect the water supply and again permit fresh beer to flow from the keg. It is evident that the first manipulation is done just before closing time, and the sec- 0nd at opening time of the establishment.

A further object hereof is to provide a cleaning means for piping systems, of the nature set forth and of novel and improved construction, which shall permit and accomplish the cleaning of the short length of pipe connecting the keg to the piping system, and if desired, to direct the water to clean the keg itself. To produce my apparatus at very reasonable cost, the manipulation to accomplish cleaning of such short connecting pipe, is done by hand on a component near the keg and is attended to only when the keg is to be replaced by a full one, at which time one must come to the cellar any! way.

Another object of this invention, is to provide a novel and improved cleaning means for piping systems, of the nature described, which is sim-. plc to adapt to present piping systems, is permanently associated with such systems, requires no additional piping to bartenders station for the control means, and which is efiicient in carrying out the functions for Which it is designed.

Other Objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a beer piping system equipped with a preferred embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a central elevational section of a preferred valve embodiment included in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral I5 indicates a, keg containing beer to be fed therefrom by usual pressure means not shown, through piping [6, ll to a dispensing tap IS. The numeral [9 designates a valve of novel design and function. This valve is interposed in the piping, as near to the keg as is practical. Pipe I6 is connected to the intake port 20, and the piping H is connected to the discharge port 2! of said valve l9. This valve has a second intake port 22 at the top thereof, connected to a length of preferablyvertically positioned piping 23, which is the water intake controlled by a valve 24 operated by an electric solenoid mechanism 25; the circuit of which solenoid has a switch 26 positioned at a convenient place at the bar 21. The: terminals 28 are connected to a current supply to operate the solenoid. Solenoid-operated valve mechanisms are well known, and therefore need no further illustration or explanation, except to say that in the installation shown, the valve 24 is closed when the switch 26 is opened, and said valve is open, when the switch is closed. The numeral 29 denotes a water supply inlet pipe, and the numeral 31'! indicates an inlet pipe for air under pressure.

in the embodiment illustrated, the casing 32 of the valve means i9, provides a vertically positioned cylinder Stwhich is open at its bottom and within the casings interior. Said cylinder is in axial alignment with the pipe 23, which latter if desired, may be an integral part of the casing piece forming the cylinder. This pipe is an inlet to the top end of said cylinder. A piston 34, is part in the said cylinder and part downwardly extending outwardly therefrom; such latter part of the piston, being surrounded by a space 35 within the casing 32. Said space 35 is communicative with the discharge port 2I of the valve means I9. The piston 34 may be a loose fit within the cylinder 33 and even permit some leakage along the cylinder. The piston 34 is provided with a socket 35 extending downwardly therein, opening at the top thereof, and said piston also has one or more ducts 31 which make said socket 36 communicative with the said space 35 aforementioned. A wall "formation 33 within the casing 32, has an opening 43 which makes the intake port 23, communicative with the discharge port 2|. If not for said opening 40, ports 20 and 2I would not be communicative. This opening 43, is in horizontal plane, and so positioned that the bottom end or face of the piston 34, may rest thereover and close it. When the piston 34 so closes said opening 43, it is evident that ports 23 and 2| are made non-communicative. An elongated tubular shell 4|, is positioned in said socket 36, is very loose therein, stands upright and extends very loose upwardly into the tube or pipe 23, so as to permit passage of liquid media from pipe 23 into the cylinder 33 and into the socket 36. When the piston 34 is in position where it closes the opening 43, the ducts 31 are communicative with the discharge port 2!. When the piston has slid up into the cylinder 33 a predetermined distance, said ducts 31 will be closed by the cylinder wall, if said piston is in good sliding contact fit with the cylinder.

A shank or pin 42, having a head 43 thereon within the valve casing 32. is slidably mounted and extends through the casing wall. Movement of said pin upwardly, will raise the piston 34 and thus uncover the opening 43. It is advisable to have suitable packing 46 threadedly engaged in a well as shown, also to have a rubber gasket at 44, and one on the piston as shown at 45, all in order to avoid leakage.

In operation, consider the condition of the system as shown in Fig. 1, where the switch 25 is open, hence the valve 24 is closed. Now, upon every opening of the tap I8, beer directed under pressure from the keg I5, will enter pipe I3, thence flow into the intake port 23 of the valve means I9, lifting the piston 34, whereupon the beer will fiow through the opening 40 and then out of the discharge port 2|, into pipe H, from whence it will finally issue out of the tap I8.

As soon as the tap I8 is closed, beer stops flowing. Upon build up of back pressure by the beer in piping I I and that in pipe 23 received through ducts 31, piston 34 will close the opening 43 and act as a check valve for backflow from beer in pipes I1 and 23.

Near closing time of the establishment, or at such other times when the beer dispensing system is not to be in use, the bartender will close the switch 26, thereby actuating the solenoid 25 to open thevalve 24. Water under a pressure which is greater than beer pressure in pipe I6, such being the arrangement, will flow into pipe 23. The piston 34 will thereupon be pushed down to close the opening 4!], cutting oiT all beer flow from the keg I5. The few glasses of beer in line I1 is dispensed through tap I8, or else is wasted by leaving tap I8 open so that water 4 will pass from pipe 23 into the socket 36, through the ducts 31, thence into the valve casing, through and filling the pipe line H and finally out of the tap I8. The water is let run until it fiows clear from the tap.

Said tap I8 is then closed, and a high back pressure will thus be built up in pipe 23 and in the shell 4I acting on the piston 34 to maintain the latter pressed on end tightly closing the opening 40, which condition continues although the switch 26 is now opened, because the pressure acting to keep the piston 34 down, exceeds the beer pressure in pipe l6, tending to raise the said piston. The pipe I'I, full of water, remains so until it is again desired to put the system into beer-dispensing condition the next business day or at such time as may be desired. So for beer dispensing start, the tap I8 is opened, thus causing the water in pipe I! to be discharged first from said tap and fiow is permitted until beer now issuing from the keg I5, runs clear from out of the tap. The beer dispensing system is now ready for the business of the day.

It may be noted, that although the shell may be omitted if the piston 34 is leak-proof fitting in its cylinder 33, the presence of said shell is preferred when said piston is loose fitting. This shell 4I is preferably a loose piece to assure that the piston 34 will set correctly on and tightly close the opening 40.

When the keg I5 is empty and a keg of new beer supply is to be connected, there is opportunity to clean the pipe length I6. To do this, the switch 26 is closed in order to open the valve 24. Either before or after the empty keg I5 is disconnected, but prior to connection of the new keg, the attendant who is to make the replacement, pushes shank 42 upwardly thereby lifting the piston 34 to uncover the opening 40. Water under pressure fed through the pipe 23, will enter and flow through the pipe I6 in a direction away from the valve means I9, and will thereby be cleaned by such water flow therethrough, until the shank 42 is pulled downward so that the piston 34 will again be forced by the water pressure acting thereon, to close said opening 40. The new keg is now connected in place of the empty one, and switch 23 is thereafter opened. Tap I8 is now opened until beer runs clear.

At regular intervals, with keg I5 removed, the piping system and incidently the valve I9, may be cleaned with suitable chemicals carried along with the water supply, and thereafter rinsed with clear water, by cutting 01f the chemical supply. When the present invention is applied in the chemical or food industries, the keg may remain connected, to be washed by water pouring therein from the pipe I6. Of course, proper air vent would have to be supplied the keg in such instance.

Especially to be noted, is the simplicity of installing my apparatus in present dispensing systems generally. At tap station, a switch 26 is mounted, one for each tap. Stringing wires 50 to the cellar or keg station, is a simple affair. All other additions and changes are made at keg station.

I also wish to make note of, that a column of beer and a column of water in a pipe line, do not mix, but retain their identity and separation. Hence, when starting the system as for instance in the morning, pouring off the water in pipe IT by opening the tap I8 until beer comes, will cause extremely little waste in beer, because the beer will run clear soon as the column of water whichwas overnight in pipe I1, is allowed to pass through the tap; said pipe I! having been cleaned by water allowed to run through it in the cleaning operation made the night before.

As an aid in nomenclature, the pipe 23 may be deemed and it really is a branch in the main pipe I1.

It is practical to include the compression coil spring 5| to assure the closing of the opening 40 when the shank 42 is let go. Of course, the beer pressure is sufficient to overcome this spring when iiow of the beer is permitted by the opening of the ap It.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description and particular application herein given, to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a main pipe of substantial length having a dispensing tap at one end and a means for feeding a first liquid under a pre-- determined pressure into its other end, of a first valve interposed in said main pipe near the liquidreceiving end of said main pipe, permitting flow towards the dispensing trap and normally in closed position when the dispensing tap is closed; said main pipe having a branch near the first valve, between said first valve and the dispensing tap, means for feeding a second liquid under a comparatively greater pressure through the branch pipe and thence into the main pipe, a second valve means interposed in the branch pipe, adapted for the control of the flow of the second liquid. from the branch pipe into the main pipe; said first valve being closed by the flow of the second liquid into the main pipe, and means for independently opening and closing both valves regardless of the flow of liquids, whereby when the second valve is closed and the dispensing tap is opened, the first liquid will flow into the main pipe, through the first valve, thence towards and out of the dispensing tap, and when the second valve is open, only the second liquid will enter the main pipe for flow towards the dispensing tap, and when both valves are open and the dispensing tap is closed, the second liquid will flow in the main pipe, through the first valve and thence out of the liquid-receiving end of the main pipe; the first valve comprising a casing communicative with the said branch and having an inlet port for the first liquid, a discharge port connected by the longer portion of the main pipe to the dispensing tap; said discharge port and branch being communicative, a wall formation within the casing, having an opening; said opening making the discharge port and branch communicative with the intake port, a cylinder within the casing, communicative with the branch and open opposite said opening, a piston slidahly positioned within the cylinder, extending therefrom and resting on said wall formation, across and covering said opening, whereby when the said opening is closed by the piston, the intake port is made non-communicative with the branch and the discharge port; said piston having a passage through said extending portion thereof, making the cylinder and the discharge port communicative when said opening is closed by the piston and themeans to open and close the said first valve comprising an element movably mounted on the casing and adapted when. moved in one direction, to shift the piston into the cylinder to uncover said opening, and when moved in the opposite direction, to permit movement of the piston to cover said opening. l

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the branch, for a determined distance from where it extends from the valve casing, is substantially in alignment with the piston along the line of movement of said piston and including an elongated shell having an open end and a closed end; said shell extending loose within the branch with the closed end of said shell contacting the piston.

ALBRECHT STAMS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

